Farmers are being forced to dump millions of gallons of milk and turn millions of pounds of fresh vegetables into mulch, thanks to the coronavirus lockdown. As they lose major bulk buyers like college dorms and restaurant chains, they are struggling to find a way to sell their product. The issue is the difference in procedures and policies that producers must follow if their product is going to commercial grocery stores versus those that they follow for contracted bulk production and delivery. Bahige El-Rayes, a partner in the consumer and retail practice at Kearney consulting firm said, “The way a client described it is they’re seeing a tsunami of demand shift from foodservice to food retail. If you’re a manufacturer today of food, it’s basically how do you adapt? How do you actually take what you sent to restaurants then sell it now to retail?”

Major food distributors have been begging the Treasury Department to prioritize loan applications from the food sector as different producers attempt the switch from foodservice to retail. Additionally, the food that is going wasted right now could be repurposed by the government.Without critical bulk contracts from universities and chain restaurants, the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association proposed that the government “immediately begin to purchase dairy products” and distribute them to government-funded organizations like food pantries and school feeding programs. Sign this petition to urge President Trump to stop the waste and capitalize on these fresh products by distributing them to those in need.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear President Trump,

Many Americans struggle to put food on the table during normal times. With the global pandemic of the novel coronavirus, more Americans find themselves in this difficult position of pinching pennies and wondering if they will be able to purchase themselves a next meal. There is clearly a great demand for nutritious foods like fruit, vegetables, fresh meats, and dairy products—and American farmers have the supply. However, the market is stopped by the red tape of different procedures and politics for foodservice orders versus retail orders for grocery stores.

As a result, farmers are forced to dump perfectly good milk and mulch fresh, ripe vegetables back into the soil. The government can step in and help. I urge you to create a government-funded and supported pathway for American farmers to supply food banks, food pantries, and school feeding programs across America. Stop this unnecessary waste of food and don’t let people go hungry.